Zuccarello misses game against Russia; Norway eliminated

Mats Zuccarello sat out this morning’s game against Russia, in which Norway lost 4-0 and thus was eliminated from Olympic competition. Zuccarello sat out with a hand injury that was reportedly from either a blocked shot or a slash.

In three games, Zuccarello averaged roughly 20 minutes per game. He finished without registering a point, 10 SOG, 2 PIMs, and a -2 rating.

26 Responses to “Zuccarello misses game against Russia; Norway eliminated”

It’s part of the game. It might not be as bad as it has been made out to be. The NHL or the Rangers more specifically might not have wanted him to miss significant time from NHL action. I would think 10 or so days is enough time for a bone bruise to heal. He finished all 3 games he played. So his absence might have been precautionary.
If Zuc misses some time. They should give Kristo a look at RW on that 3rd line. He’s a shooter and as a puck possession team, that’s a guy that can chip in. Otherwise use Lindburg. I like his game. He’s becoming accustomed to the North American ice and game structure. He just needs to see NHL talent. Let’s hope Zuc is aight!!!

Kessler was hurt the other day blocking a shot. Zetterburg is out for who knows how long now. That wasn’t no big deal but the second Zuc hurts his hand pull them out of the Olympics. All this is great for the NHL. You don’t think this is HRR & will aid in the increase in the salary cap in years to come. It could be $80 mil in 2 more seasons. Fans get to see start on West Coast teams they don’t get to see normally. I had no idea Oshie was that good with the puck. Kane is an American version of St Louis of Tampa. Great hands and from the RW he can score or make a tape to tape pass to set Pavelski up for a perfect one timer. He’s majic with the puck. Very quick, sneaky, and deceptive release. Injuries will happen. So far I think they’ve been pretty minor so far. Zuccarello will be fine.

Let’s not be short sighted here. Hockey always gets a bump after the Olympics. The casual viewer likes what they see and turns into the NHL afterwards. Heck, we already have a hero in TJ Osche. Not many people knew his name before and now he probably will be on the Wheaties box. If the league wants to be stronger, they have to increase viewership and the Olympics does that. Finally Zuccs could have gotten hurt at MSG just as easily as Sochi. After all everyone reminds me that this is a rough sport.

I’m not talking about American or North American professional sports. You can’t compare this to the NHL or NFL as there is not nearly the same international presence which demands for such a tournament.

This is the biggest, most exciting hockey tournament in the international community. The fact that it happens only once in four years raises the stakes even higher. Sure, the NHL could decide to be the only top professional league in the world to deny its players the opportunity to compete, BUT all that would do is decimate the Canadian and American teams (which, by the way are comprised 100% of NHLers), AS WELL AS, continue to further the divide which exists in international hockey relations between North America and the rest of the world (Europe).

I’d argue that more players would go and pull a Kovulchuk (neg on their contracts and play overseas), if the NHL denied its players the opportunity to participate.

If you are a fan of the NHL, then sure, you can disagree with NHL participation in the Olympics; but if you care more about the sport of hockey, then it wouldn’t be the smart choice.

If he gets hurt in MSG, then I’m fine with that, the Rangers are the ones paying his lucrative salary. it’s part of the game. This is why, and I reiterate, I believe Olympic hockey should be moved to the summer games. I love the NHL, have for the last 45 yrs of my life. I could care less about the casual viewer, I have seen them come and go over the years, or whether Oshie gets on a Wheaties box. The Americans won gold with a complete and utter cinderella story in 1980, and yea some casual fans turned toward hockey, but then they left again. The game is too fast for the casual fan, they just don’t get it. We have to realize that hockey is what it is, it will never be the NFL, MLB, or even NBA. Let’s deal with that, and not let our NHL players get hurt in the Olympics in the middle of our season every four years. The risk is not worth my teams chances at the Stanley Cup. What wrong with letting the kids play in the Olympics. Remember, there are alot of young athletes that do not realize their Olympic dreams because we instead choose to give their spots to millionaire professionals. Mike Eruzione and other athletes form 1980 hockey made a living off of that gold. Could be your kid’s lost oppotunity. Food for thought!

NBA is played in the same winter months as NHL, yet they play in the olympics in the Summer! In case you haven’t noticed the NHL plays “indoors” (99% of games, if not more, didn’t do the actual calculations). They played outdoors in LA in 70 degree weather. So your “absolutely no sense” argument, well, makes absolutely no sense. Also, that part of my argument was just to appease those of you, like yourself, that “Need” to see NHL players in the Olympics. If you cared to read the whole post you would have realized I advocate the NHL stay out of the Olympics altogether, for the reasons I listed above. As for the greatest players playing in the greatest tournament, I call that the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and that happens once a year!

Some of the greatest hockey we’ve ever seen has been at international tournaments with NHL players. The 1996 World Cup was simply amazing from beginning to end and that was still nothing compared to the three game Canada-USSR Canada Cup final in 1987 which may be the single best sporting event I’ve ever seen. Any opportunity to showcase what most of us (I assume) believe to be the most exciting sport on the planet is worth it.

Again the showcase argument. Can you tell me why this is important and back up your claims? I have not in my lifetime seen any tournament create “new” hockey fans that make a difference. Is what it is! I don’t want my guys hurt in the Olympics!

Why yes, I can back up those claims. “USA’s 3-2 Olympics victory over Russia’s men team drew a record 4.1 million viewers for NBC Sports Network. The most to ever watch a hockey game on the channel. In fact, the audience peaked all the way up at 6.4 million in the last half hour [during] the 8-round shootout. That’s the most viewed half-hour in NBCSN’s history.”

Hey all, listen, I totally get that there are two sides to this story, and I understand the other side, and believe there are valid points. This is just my side of the story. Not expecting to change views, just venting my side.

From RangerRants:
The worst-case scenario for any NHL team is to have one of its players injured during the Olympics, such as the Panthers learning center Aleksander Barkov may miss the rest of the NHL season after hurting his knee playing for Finland, or the Red Wings having Henrik Zetterberg sent back to Detroit after being hurt playing for Sweden in the preliminary round.

So it was probably a tense few minutes for the Rangers after defenseman Erik Karlsson, chasing after Loui Eriksson during Sweden’s Monday practice in Sochi, crashed into Henrik Lundqvist. The goalie appeared shaken up and skated over to the bench after the collision and watched the rest of practice from there. Lundqvist, always generous with his time to the media, declined to speak to reporters after practice but a team doctor for Sweden reported Lundqvist was OK.

The same thing when Carl Hagelin left Sweden’s 5-3 win over Latvia. Hagelin said after the game he would be able to keep playing in the Olympics.

Just wondering if your opinions would be the same if the Rangers were left without Zucc, The King and Hagelin the rest of the year?? anybody??? How about if Nash scores the gold medal goal but breaks his leg crashing into the boards because he was hooked?? Anybody???

I enjoy watching Olympic hockey and I’m glad the players get to go. Players are aware of the risks, as am I. But I like watching NHL players in the Olympics so I’ll continue to do so until Bettman says otherwise.

Those plays can happen in any NHL game on any night. It’s luck of the draw on whether you get hurt. Zuke very well could have taken a slash playing the first game back from the Olympics.Zetterberg might be done for the season after re injuring his back. He took like 5 days off and then played a couple games. Would he haven not re injured that back if he was playing 3 games in 4 nights back in North America? Hockey happens, regardless of where these players are playing.

Hell, look at it this way. In which game is there a better chance for Hank to get hurt? A game against the flyers or playing Slovakia? I’ll take the risk (a risk that is no greater than any other NHL game) of these players getting hurt during the 8 games they play in the Olympics as long as I get to see more games like USA vs. Russia from two days ago and the gold medal game from the 2010 Olympics.